Objective: To evaluate repeated testing on blood screening platforms in confirmation of non-discriminatory reactive (NDR) samples in nucleic acid testing (NAT). Methods: A total of 102 HBsAg-negative/NAT NDR samples were collected from voluntary blood donors at Dalian Blood Center between January 2021 and December 2023. Repeated testing was performed using two NAT platforms (Cobas s201 and Panther). For the first round of repeated testing, all samples were tested 12 times on each system; for the second round, the samples which were non-reactive or only reactive once in the first round were tested an additional 8 times. Anti-HBc and anti-HBs was detected using electrochemiluminescence assay (ECA). Meanwhile, blood donors were followed up. Results: The proportion of anti-HBc+ in 102 NDR samples was 88.2%. Forty-one samples (40.2%, 41/102) and 7 samples were confirmed HBV DNA+ in first-round and second-round repeated testing, respectively. The cumulative confirmation rate of HBV DNA+ was 47.1% (48/102) after repeated testing. Extra five blood donors detected HBV DNA+ in follow-up were identified as anti-HBc+ occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI), while no window period infection was observed. Ultimately, there were 53 HBV infected donors confirmed, 46 HBV infection-unconfirmed, and 3 HBV uninfected. No significant difference was observed between the confirmation rate of the first-round testing and the cumulative confirmation rate after the second-round testing (P>0.05). The proportion of anti-HBc+ donors was quite high in both HBV infection-confirmed (98.1%) and unconfirmed group (82.6%), and donors with seronegative and anti-HBs-only occupied a high proportion in the latter (P<0.05). Conclusion: Numerous repeated testing of NDR samples using NAT platforms cannot achieve complete confirmation of HBV infection. Supplementary anti-HBc testing can minimize potential OBI risk among NDR donors, and is low-cost and efficient.

ObjectiveTo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis (hereinafter referred to as brucellosis) in Baoshan City, Yunnan Province, and to provide scientific evidence for adjusting prevention and control strategies. MethodsBased on the surveillance data of reported brucellosis cases in Baoshan City from 2020 to 2023 and the information collected through individual epidemiological questionnaire surveys, the epidemic status and clinical characteristics of brucellosis in Baoshan City were analyzed using descriptive epidemiological methods. ResultsA total of 85 brucellosis cases were reported in Baoshan City from 2020 to 2023, and detailed individual information was obtained for 83 of them. Brucellosis in Baoshan City showed a clear seasonal pattern, with peak incidence from May to September. The average annual incidence rate was 0.80/100 000, with a male-to-female ratio of 7.5∶1. And 82.35% of the cases aged 30 to 60 years, with farmers being the predominant affected group. The main clinical manifestations of the cases were myalgia and arthralgia. Regarding transmission routes, 87.95% of the cases had a contact history with cattle, with livestock rearing and grazing being the main exposure modes. Most infections occurred at home. ConclusionFrom 2020 to 2023, the incidence of brucellosis in Baoshan City exhibited a fluctuating upward trend, with a peak period from May to September. Males and farmers were identified as the primary affected populations. It is recommended to strengthen livestock surveillance and control, and to enhance both awareness and self-protection capacity among high-risk groups.

ObjectiveTo investigate the distribution characteristics and correlation of paired oral and esophageal microbiota in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC）. MethodsA total of 46 pathologically confirmed ESCC patients were enrolled， and oral swabs and cancerous tissue samples were collected. The microbial composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing， and bioinformatics methods were employed to compare the microbiota diversity， compositional differences， and correlations between the two sites. ResultsThe Alpha diversity of the oral microbiota in ESCC patients was significantly higher than that of their esophageal microbiota， though the overall community structure was similar between the two sites. LEfSe analysis revealed that Spirochaetes， Prevotella， Catonella， Enterococcus， Fusobacterium periodonticum， Veillonella parvula， Capnocytophaga sputigena， and Neisseria subflava were significantly enriched in ESCC tumor tissues. In contrast， Actinobacteria， Proteobacteria， Streptococcus， Neisseria， Haemophilus， Streptococcus mitis， Haemophilus parainfluenzae， Porphyromonas gingivalis， Haemophilus haemolyticus， and Prevotella tannerae were significantly enriched in the oral cavity. Correlation analysis demonstrated significant associations between the two sites at taxonomic levels such as Spirochaetes， Treponema， Granulicatella elegans， Neisseria macacae， Treponema amylovorum， Fusobacterium periodonticum， and Neisseria meningitidis （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe oral and esophageal microbiota in ESCC patients exhibit both distinct differences and similarities. Oral microbiota may influence the esophageal microenvironment through migration or local immune modulation.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Hezhongxiaopi granules （HZXPG） on methylnitronitrosoguanidine （MNNG）-mediated gastric mucosal cell apoptosis and the regulatory effects on the Nicalin （Ncln）-C/EBP homologous protein （CHOP） axis and endoplasmic reticulum stress （ERS）. MethodsThe cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay was employed to examine the inhibitory effect of MNNG on the proliferation of GES-1 cells， and the optimal effective dose of MNNG was selected. Human gastric mucosal GES-1 cells were allocated into the control， model （MNNG， 1.562 5 mmol·L^-1）， and low/high-dose HZXPG （5% and 10% HZXPG-containing serum） groups. Phalloidin staining was employed to detect MNNG-induced morphological changes in human gastric mucosal cells. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling （TUNEL） assay was adopted to assess cell apoptosis. Annexin Ⅴ/propidium iodide （Annexin Ⅴ/PI） flow cytometry was utilized to measure the alterations in the apoptotic cycle of human gastric mucosal cells. Western blot was performed to determine the expression levels of proteins related to apoptosis， ERS， and the Ncln/CHOP axis. ResultsCompared with the control group， the model group exhibited a reduction in the surface area of GES-1 cells， endoplasmic reticulum （ER） dilation， increased early and late apoptosis rates of gastric mucosal cells， upregulated protein levels of truncated Bid （tBid）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， cleaved-cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase （Caspase）-3， and cleaved-Caspase-8， and downregulated protein level of B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2） （P<0.01）. In addition， the expression levels of binding immunoglobulin protein （BiP）， Ncln， and CHOP were upregulated （P<0.01）， with enhanced Ncln expression in the ER and elevated CHOP expression in the nucleus. Compared with the model group， the high-dose HZXPG group showed a significant increase in the surface area of gastric mucosal cells. Both dose groups exhibited inhibited ER dilation and reduced early and late apoptosis rates of gastric mucosal cells （P<0.01）. Low-dose HZXPG decreased the expression of tBid and Bax （P<0.05， P<0.01） and promoted Bcl-2 expression （P<0.01）. High-dose HZXPG reduced the expression levels of tBid， Bax， cleaved-Caspase-3， and cleaved-Caspase-8 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and increased the Bcl-2 expression level （P<0.05）. Furthermore， high-dose HZXPG downregulated the expression levels of BiP， Ncln， and CHOP （P<0.05， P<0.01）， while decreasing the nuclear translocation of CHOP. ConclusionHZXPG alleviates MNNG-induced ERR-mediated apoptosis of gastric mucosal cells by inhibiting the Ncln-CHOP axis， thereby relieving gastric mucosal cell damage caused by precancerous gastric lesions.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of ethoxysanguinarine （ETH） on angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ）-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis and its regulatory effects of inositol-requiring enzyme 1 （IRE1）/regulated IRE1-dependent decay （RIDD） signaling pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress. MethodsWestern blot was used to detect the establishment of the H9c2 model via Ang Ⅱ stimulation， which was identified as a cardiomyocyte apoptosis model. Subsequently， the inhibitory effect of ETH on cell proliferation was assessed using the cell counting Kit-8 （CCK-8） to determine the optimal effective dose of ETH. H9c2 cardiomyocytes were divided into a blank group， a model group （Ang Ⅱ， 1 mmol·L^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose ETH groups （1.25， 2.5， and 5 mmol·L^-1）. Morphological changes in cardiomyocytes induced by Ang Ⅱ were detected using phalloidin staining. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick and labeling （TUNEL） staining. The apoptosis cycle was detected by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins， endoplasmic reticulum stress， and IRE1/RIDD pathway-related proteins. ResultsWestern blot results showed that 1 mmol/mL Ang Ⅱ stimulation significantly increased the protein expression levels of Bip， p-IRE1， and Bid in H9c2 cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）， indicating the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress， activation of the IRE1/RIDD signaling pathway， and initiation of the apoptosis process. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed a significant increase in the surface area of H9c2 cells and the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes， as well as in both early and late apoptosis rates （P<0.01）. The expression levels of Bid， Bax， cleaved-Caspase-3， and cleaved-Caspase-8 proteins were significantly increased， while the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of Bip， p-IRE1， and p-RIDD proteins were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， the surface area of cardiomyocytes and the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes in all ETH groups were significantly decreased after drug intervention. Both early and late apoptosis rates were significantly decreased. The expression level of cleaved-Caspase-8 was significantly decreased in the low-dose ETH group （P<0.05）. The expression levels of Bid， Bax， and cleaved-Caspase-8 were significantly decreased in the medium-dose ETH group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The high-dose ETH group significantly reduced the expression levels of Bid， Bax， cleaved-Caspase-3， and cleaved-Caspase-8 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and significantly increased the expression level of Bcl-2 （P<0.05）. The level of p-IRE1 protein in the medium-dose ETH group was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of Bip， p-IRE1， and p-RIDD proteins in the high-dose ETH group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionETH can alleviate Ang Ⅱ-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting the IRE1/RIDD signaling pathway and further alleviate the cardiac injury caused by hypertension.

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of ethoxysanguinarine （ETH） on angiotensin Ⅱ （Ang Ⅱ）-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis and its regulatory effects of inositol-requiring enzyme 1 （IRE1）/regulated IRE1-dependent decay （RIDD） signaling pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress. MethodsWestern blot was used to detect the establishment of the H9c2 model via Ang Ⅱ stimulation， which was identified as a cardiomyocyte apoptosis model. Subsequently， the inhibitory effect of ETH on cell proliferation was assessed using the cell counting Kit-8 （CCK-8） to determine the optimal effective dose of ETH. H9c2 cardiomyocytes were divided into a blank group， a model group （Ang Ⅱ， 1 mmol·L^-1）， and low-， medium-， and high-dose ETH groups （1.25， 2.5， and 5 mmol·L^-1）. Morphological changes in cardiomyocytes induced by Ang Ⅱ were detected using phalloidin staining. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis was assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick and labeling （TUNEL） staining. The apoptosis cycle was detected by Annexin V/PI flow cytometry. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins， endoplasmic reticulum stress， and IRE1/RIDD pathway-related proteins. ResultsWestern blot results showed that 1 mmol/mL Ang Ⅱ stimulation significantly increased the protein expression levels of Bip， p-IRE1， and Bid in H9c2 cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）， indicating the induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress， activation of the IRE1/RIDD signaling pathway， and initiation of the apoptosis process. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed a significant increase in the surface area of H9c2 cells and the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes， as well as in both early and late apoptosis rates （P<0.01）. The expression levels of Bid， Bax， cleaved-Caspase-3， and cleaved-Caspase-8 proteins were significantly increased， while the expression level of Bcl-2 protein was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of Bip， p-IRE1， and p-RIDD proteins were significantly increased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with those in the model group， the surface area of cardiomyocytes and the apoptosis rate of cardiomyocytes in all ETH groups were significantly decreased after drug intervention. Both early and late apoptosis rates were significantly decreased. The expression level of cleaved-Caspase-8 was significantly decreased in the low-dose ETH group （P<0.05）. The expression levels of Bid， Bax， and cleaved-Caspase-8 were significantly decreased in the medium-dose ETH group （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The high-dose ETH group significantly reduced the expression levels of Bid， Bax， cleaved-Caspase-3， and cleaved-Caspase-8 （P<0.05， P<0.01） and significantly increased the expression level of Bcl-2 （P<0.05）. The level of p-IRE1 protein in the medium-dose ETH group was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. The expression levels of Bip， p-IRE1， and p-RIDD proteins in the high-dose ETH group were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionETH can alleviate Ang Ⅱ-mediated cardiomyocyte apoptosis by inhibiting the IRE1/RIDD signaling pathway and further alleviate the cardiac injury caused by hypertension.

The current classification methods for traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） visceral syndrome differentiation suffer from excessive generalization， which hinders their clinical application. Based on the analysis of the pattern of "one syndrome corresponding to multiple formulas"， this paper focused on the principle of syndrome-formula correspondence， and proposed that formula-syndromes are the smallest units for refining visceral syndromes. By establishing the correspondence between formula-syndromes and visceral syndromes， this study aims to further clarify the refined categories of syndromes and their treatment patterns， providing a new perspective for the standardization and objectification of TCM syndromes.

Globally, over 300 million surgeries are performed each year, and more than 50% of surgeries involve patients aged 65 and older. Aging poses significant challenges to perioperative brain health, as the deterioration of brain structure and function increases susceptibility to postoperative neurological complications. Protecting perioperative brain health remains a worldwide clinical challenge. With senescence, the brain undergoes a progressive decline in homeostasis across various molecular, cellular, and regional functions. Anesthetics and surgical stimuli may accelerate the disruption of brain homeostasis and exacerbate age-related neurodegeneration. This review provides a framework for understanding how anesthesia and surgery can affect brain health in the aging population and contribute to postoperative neurological complications, with a particular focus on perioperative neurocognitive disorder.

A brain-computer interface (BCI) based on motor imagery (MI) provides additional control pathways by decoding the intentions of the brain. MI ability has great intra-individual variability, and the majority of MI-BCI systems are unable to adapt to this variability, leading to poor training effects. Therefore, prediction of MI ability is needed. In this study, we propose an MI ability predictor based on multi-frequency EEG features. To validate the performance of the predictor, a video-guided paradigm and a traditional MI paradigm are designed, and the predictor is applied to both paradigms. The results demonstrate that all subjects achieved > 85% prediction precision in both applications, with a maximum of 96%. This study indicates that the predictor can accurately predict the individuals' MI ability in different states, provide the scientific basis for personalized training, and enhance the effect of MI-BCI training.
Humans ; Imagination/physiology* ; Electroencephalography/methods* ; Brain-Computer Interfaces ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Young Adult ; Brain/physiology* ; Movement/physiology* ; Motor Activity/physiology* ; Psychomotor Performance/physiology*

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common reproductive endocrine disorder in women of childbearing age, which can cause metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and other complications, seriously endangering the health of the body. China has become one of the countries with the fastest increasing prevalence of PCOS, but its complex pathogenesis leads to highly heterogeneous clinical manifestations, making it difficult to completely cure. Therefore, clarifying the potential pathogenesis of PCOS is of great significance for early clinical screening, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Recent studies have shown that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plays a dual role in the pathogenesis of PCOS and is a potential novel biomarker and intervention target. The characteristics of multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway action in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are consistent with the biological properties of lncRNA, which have diverse types, dual roles, and diverse locations. However, research on lncRNA mediated PCOS and how TCM can improve PCOS by regulating lncRNA is relatively scattered, which is not conducive to the recognition of its clinical value. Therefore, this article provides a systematic review of the dual regulatory mechanism, clinical value, and TCM intervention research of lncRNA in the occurrence and development of PCOS, aiming to clarify how lncRNA affects the occurrence and development of PCOS and potential treatment strategies, in order to provide new ideas for the clinical prevention and treatment of PCOS.